What's new, what's happening, and what's to come in Tampa Bay public transportation.

Monday, January 12, 2015

HART sees big ridership growth in December

HART
ridership continued to be strong in December with 1.27 million boardings,
an increase of 5.7
percent from last year. Fiscal year to date ridership is 4.1 percent ahead
of the same period last year with HART on track to exceed over 15 million
boardings in FY2015. All this, while gas prices are the lowest in six years!

The most recent ridership report shows total passenger trips for December
reached

1,272,735.
That's 69,006 more
riders choosing HART to get around Hillsborough County in
December 2014 compared to the same month last year.

2014 was a critical year for
HART with record ridership, further recognition of its innovative transit
system and new community partnerships. Ridership gains and system
improvements continue to be fueled by efforts to position HART as a better
way to travel around Hillsborough County.

"Just
as our current passengers are using our service more, we continue to
attract new passengers with service and amenities that are increasingly
relevant and attractive," said HART Chief Executive Officer Katharine
Eagan. "Public transit in Hillsborough County continues to improve,
and I encourage people who haven't been on a bus lately to give it a
try."

Fast
facts:

December
3
saw the greatest daily ridership throughout the month with 58,662
riders picking HART!

14
days
exceeded 50,000 riders.

MetroRapid ridership was 49,584 up 8.3 percent from
December 2013 and up 2.8
percent (149,506) for the year.

Year-to-date
(FY2014 vs. FY2015), bus ridership is up 4.1 percent;
an increase of
155,170 trips compared to the same period last
year.

The
following routes
are our highest percentage gainers so far in FY2015,*
showing that added investment in public transit pays off with more riders: